Updated 6:59 am, Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Dark horse: No. 6 Averill Park. The Warriors will need to beat No. 11 seed Bishop Gibbons to set up a Sunday showdown vs. No. 3 Glens Falls at Hudson Valley Community College. Averill Park beat Guilderland and Colonie during the season and there is no reason to think the Warriors cannot piece together a couple of playoff wins.

My selection: Scotia. The Tartans have met with little resistance during the regular season in amassing a sparkling 18-0 record. There could be a challenge awaiting Scotia in the final, but it will not be enough to prevent the Tartans from repeating as champions.

Dark horse: No. 7 Ravena. The Indians had their five-game winning streak snapped by a 62-48 loss to Lansingburgh on Feb. 12, but they also own a win over fifth-seeded Cohoes, the Colonial Council Division II champion. Ravena opens its playoff run against No. 10 seed Hudson and a win would likely mean a quarterfinal contest against Schuylerville.

My selection: Watervliet. The Cannoneers are attempting to repeat as champions in a very deep and dangerous Class B draw. No team in the field has players as talented as Jordan Gleason and Tyler McLeod. If those two play up to their capabilities, it is hard to imagine any team unseating Watervliet as champions.

Class C

Favorites: No. 1 Hoosic Valley, No. 2 Lake George

Contenders: No. 3 Greenwich, No. 4 Canajoharie

Dark horse: No. 7 Berne-Knox-Westerlo. The Bulldogs lost twice to both Mekeel Christian Academy and Schoharie, but also own a double-overtime win at Voorheesville. Garrett Pitcher surpassed his grandfather as the school's all-time leading scorer and he wants to make an impact before departing the program. The Bulldogs are a team capable of making a run.

My selection: Hoosic Valley. The Indians received a late-season injury scare when senior center Ethan Ross-Hixson missed a few games. He is back, and the trio of Ross-Hixson, John Rooney and Mike Pierre will lead the Indians to the championship.

Class D

Favorite: No. 1 Argyle

Contenders: No. 2 Loudonville Christian, No. 3 Fort Ann

Dark horse: No. 10 Northville. The Falcons won only four times in Western Athletic Conference play, yet enter the playoffs at 9-9 overall. One of Northville's nonleague wins came against Doane Stuart in a 53-47 decision Jan. 5. This time, the teams play Wednesday night at Rensselaer High.

My selection: Argyle. The Scots are led by Section II scoring leader Joey Lufkin, but the top-ranked squad is hardly a one-man team. Argyle is looking to repeat as a champion and, despite a dangerous squad in second-seeded Loudonville Christian, will manage to accomplish its mission.